Apple Allegedly Cuts Ties with Samsung over A7 Processors

Amidst rising tensions between the two constantly embittered tech giants, the Korea Times is reporting that Apple has plans to sever its ties with Samsung when it comes to producing its A7 processors, Apple’s next generation of mobile CPUs. An unnamed executive working for a Samsung partner revealed that Apple is looking to move its business to Taiwan, as the company has allegedly shared information regarding the A7 processors with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC).

The processors are expected be to available in the first half of 2014 for use in mobile devices and it’s looking like Apple is preparing to decrease its dependence on Samsung for its component parts. Despite the fact that a recent $1 billion settlement between Apple and Samsung was slashed nearly in half, Apple still pays billions of dollars a year to its primary competitor for components like processors and displays.

Moving their business to TSMC might prove to be a strategically sound move for Apple as the Taiwanese-based company has recently boasted of success with producing 20-nanometer chips while expecting a sharp uptick in shipments of their 28-nanometer design in 2013. The same source said that Samsung is looking to deepen its relationship with NVIDIA as Apple gradually cuts the ties that bind them.

Melissa Grey is a lover of all things cats, Batman, and outer space. She can be found on MyIGN at MelissaGrey or lurking on Twitter @meligrey.